The Growing Problem of Obesity in Our Children

There is a dangerous epidemic affecting our children. It's called obesity. There are many reasons for this problem. When we take a look at this growing problem we can take steps to either prevent it in our children or help them overcome it if they have this trouble. Mary Bellizzi is an expert with the International Obesity Task Force. The research she took part in shows an estimated 22 million children all over the world under the age of 5 are overweight or obese. This is a frightening statistic.

What are the main reasons for this unhealthy fact? Unhealthy is a key word. All over the world we have taken to eating conveniently. Whether we are choosing fast food restaurants or fast foods at home that are filled with high levels of saturated fat and preservatives, many times we are taking less time to focus on feeding our children properly. I also know from experience that the time our children spend in school can invoke a poor diet due to vending machines filled with high fat and calorie snacks as well as soda. During a two year position in a local middle school where I took a cashier job at the al-a-carte line in the cafeteria, the school offered 90% junk food. Kids were filling up on this instead of eating from the regular hot lunch program, and I did notice a weight problem in many of the children.

Over-consumption of calories is also an obvious cause. Our portions on our plates have gotten over-sized. The clean-plate-rule in homes has always made me angry. Parents who fill up their child's plate and then insist on them eating every last morsel before they leave the table should be facing child abuse charges. Parents, if you hear one thing I say here, hear this. Do not force your child to eat! They will eat when they are hungry and then they will eat what they need. Throw the clean-plate-rule into the garbage disposal. If you have a finicky eater, certainly encourage a one-bite trial, but don't force the issue.

When buying snacks for your children, remember that filling them up with refined sugar now can likely lead to diabetes later. A little candy is fine, but teaching kids to eat fruits and vegetables early on will pay off later in creating healthy eating habits. Good snack choices will keep your child energized, feeling well, and without serious health risks in their adult years. Responsibility for healthful eating lies in the parent's hands. This is not to say that you should banish all snacks. A few chips or a small ice cream sundae on occasion is okay. Just improve the overall quality of the family's snack attacks. A great place to start looking at what you and your children need is www.mypyramidtracker.gov. This is very helfful in getting your family started in the right direction in the food and activity departments. It is free and easy to use.

Overweight children are more likely to suffer from depression and low self-esteem. They are also at risk for becoming obese adults. Joint problems and asthma are common side effects of being overweight. Taking steps now will improve the overall well-being of your youngsters.

Our kids learn a lot from our patterns. If you are eating healthy, they are more likely to eat well. This goes for exercise and activity too. Be a good role model when it comes to staying active. If you are an overweight couch potato, why would you expect your child to be any different? Spend time with your child outdoors. Do things together that require getting off of the couch, like dancing in the living room. Not only will staying active keep your family in shape, it is also a great way to bond.